Here's why you should use all your vacation days this year

Tuesday

If you ended 2018 without using all your vacation days, you're not alone.

According to AAA, more than half of Americans fail to use all their time off, leaving a total of 705 million unused days in 2017. You could go on a lot of vacations in 705 million days.

That's why the U.S. Travel Association is encouraging you to plan for vacation on National Plan for Vacation Day, typically acknowledged on the last Tuesday of January. So let's go ahead and pledge together that we'll plan the rest of our vacation days this week.

So, why is using your vacation days such a big deal?

According to the U.S. Travel Association, it makes us happier. People who travel tend to be happier with their company, their job, their personal relationships and their physical health than those who don't travel. There are science-based facts, too: vacations have been linked with stress reduction, heart disease prevention and better sleep.

Love is in the air: Travel to these romantic cities for Valentine’s Day

You may be afraid to take days off due to your work load or duties at the office, but taking a vacation can actually benefit both you and your employer. Taking vacations reduces burnout (which is especially common among millennials), leaves you refreshed and boosts creativity. According to a study by Project Time Off, employees who take less vacation time are less likely to get a raise, so taking a vacation could event benefit your wallet.

Speaking of wallets, let's not forget the fact that by not taking your vacation days, you're essentially giving your employers free labor. There's a reason your vacation days are considered a benefit of your employment.

The U.S. Travel Association event created a handy vacation planning tool if you're not a natural planner. Simply input the number of days you have into the tool and dive into the calendar, marking days you intend to take off.